Conservation work in the Bolivian Amazon — choose your sanctuary and become part of the CIWY family.
Watch the film
You’ll live close to nature in the Amazon rainforest, care for rescued wildlife, and support their rehabilitation and well-being. It’s a unique opportunity to make friends from around the world and create lasting memories.
Two sanctuaries, two very different settings. Work areas, facilities, costs and directions are on each sanctuary’s own page.
Felines & birds
1,000 hectares of flooded Amazonian forest in the middle of the jungle. Here you will wake to the sounds of wild howler monkeys to say good morning.
Primates & coatis
300 hectares of pre-Andean Amazonian forest bordering Madidi National Park. Bathe in crystal-clear streams, stargaze at night and join our full-moon hikes to see nocturnal animals.
On Instagram
Our volunteers filmed both sanctuaries. Watch the reels right here, then follow @inti_wara_yassi for daily life from the jungle.
Tapping play loads the reel from Instagram.
@inti_wara_yassi · Reel
@inti_wara_yassi · Reel
To make your arrival smooth and stress-free, this is how your stay comes together.
Fill out the volunteer application. It only takes a moment and helps us prepare for your arrival.
Optional: a non-refundable fee of US$100 guarantees that you can volunteer when and where you want to.
We give you a full introduction, assign your accommodation and match you with a work area.
For most volunteers, work begins at 7:00 am and ends at 5:30 pm, with one day of rest per week.
Many volunteers extend their stay: 10 % off for 3 months and 30 % off for 6 months paid upfront.
The cost of volunteering varies by sanctuary and is kept as low as possible. We appreciate that volunteers donate their time to support the animals, but we must collect a modest payment to provide room and board. The full amount is paid before starting work.
Volunteer package
from $430 / 15 days
Volunteer package
from $350 / 15 days
Also good to know: every stay requires a security deposit of $50 / 500 Bs and a café / candy shop deposit of $50 / 500 Bs. Each additional day costs $20 after a 15-day package and $15 after longer ones. Discounts: 10 % off a 3-month stay and 30 % off a 6-month stay when paid upfront. CIWY is a non-profit organisation with no governmental funding — every package helps us continue rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals in need.
Long-term volunteers
Everything the old hands wish they had known before their first day — requirements, stays, reservations, packing and health.
We accept volunteers from all walks of life and do not require previous experience with wildlife — all training takes place at the sanctuary. All volunteers must meet these requirements:
Volunteering with animals requires a commitment of at least 15 nights, although some species require up to 44 nights. In general, 15 nights are required to work with monkeys and 30 nights to work with felines — the exact minimum per species is on the volunteer page of each sanctuary. The minimum stays are part of a policy for the wellbeing and emotional stability of our animals.
We require only a one-week commitment to work with construction projects, maintenance and gardening at Parque Jacj Cuisi.
For most volunteers, work begins at 7:00 am and ends at 5:30 pm, with two breaks (breakfast and lunch) that usually add up to 2.5 hours. The specific hours of each work area are on the page of each sanctuary. As a volunteer, you receive one day of rest per week.
Long-term volunteers are crucial to the work we do: besides caring for animals, they help manage and direct our sanctuaries and often develop specialised knowledge of the animals. With time, some move into paid staff positions with CIWY. If you have doubts about visas, check our FAQ.
We accept reservations for those who prefer the peace of mind of having a guaranteed place in the sanctuary of their choice. To make a reservation, we require a non-refundable fee of US$100 per person. This payment is optional, but guarantees that you will be able to volunteer with us, when and where you want to. Just tick the reservation box in the application form and agree to these terms:
If you have room to spare in your luggage, please consider bringing items from our Wish List. Many of them are cheap elsewhere but difficult to buy in Bolivia — any donation, however small, is greatly appreciated.
We highly recommend that you consult a doctor in your country about the risks and preventive measures to take before travelling to Bolivia.
You must be vaccinated against yellow fever in order to enter Bolivia. It is also advised to have the following vaccines up to date (not mandatory):
We have never had a case of malaria at any of our sanctuaries, but this does not mean there is no risk. Most of our volunteers and workers do not take preventive medication, but we recommend that you consult a doctor about the pros and cons for your own circumstances.
If you take any medication, bring enough to complete the treatment. If you plan to stay for several months, you can ask us whether the product you need is available in the pharmacies nearby. Some products, such as the antibiotic fosfomycin (Monurol) for urinary tract infections, are not available in Bolivia.
